Photography by Ian L. Sitren

Posts tagged “aviation photographer

It’s A Secret

I really enjoy bringing the Palm Springs Air Museum to so very many people around the globe and here more locally. CNN named it as one of the Best Air Museums In The World.  So please come visit and also just follow along!

And a secret, don’t tell anyone… I am having a lot of fun! This is me in the backseat of the Air Museum’s P-51 Mustang “Bunny” taking off from March Air Field on Sunday. Our Museum visitors get to fly too! It is Living History whether in the backseat of  “Bunny” or in our WWII Paratrooper C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”, watching our weekly flight demonstrations, sitting in the pilot’s seat for “Open Cockpit”, or touring inside our giant four engine B-17 “Flying Fortress”. It is a first hand experience, always exciting.  Thanks!

This video was shot on the new Fujifim X-H1 camera body and the Fujifilm XF18-135 lens. Even better, kept on me with a beast of a camera strap made for aviation by Vulture Equipment Works. That is what you don’t leave home without!


From Here To There!

Before and almost after, still going. My own story and you will like this. A before and after like you have never seen!


Smokin!

Shooting at the equivalent of 600mm super telephoto and handheld through the haze of smoke oil as the airplane almost hangs in the air. With the Fujifilm X-H1 camera body and 100-400mm lens. Braced with the camera strap made for aviation by Vulture Equipment Works.

March Air Reserve Base Air Show 2018

Always front and center in Air Shows and Aviation, Hangar 24 Craft Brewing on proud display at the March Air Field Air Show this past weekend. And myself there with the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Enveloped by a haze of smoke oil and flown by the extreme aerobatics pilot Jon Melby! The Pitt’s S-1-11B Muscle Bi-Plane has 350 HP, cruises at over 195 MPH, and Jon’s airshow routine is anywhere from 9 positive to 4 negative G’s. Wow!

Visit Hangar 24 Craft Brewery in Redlands CA. “Beer Crafted with Purpose”. And be sure to catch the huge Hangar 24 Airfest coming up on May 19 & 20 right at the Redlands Airport!


F-86 Waves Of Energy!

You can see all that energy rising from that F-86 Sabre jet engine as it whirls up to taxi out. The man known as the best Warbird Pilot in the world, Steve Hinton, gets ready to go fly in the March Field Air & Space Expo this past weekend.
Shot at the equivalent of 600mm, handheld, with the Fujifilm X-H1 camera and the Fujifilm 100-400mm lens. I had it steadied on me with a beast of a camera strap from Vulture Equipment Works.

C-17 Globemaster & Fujifilm X-H1

Nothing says March Air Reserve Base as much as these giant C-17 Globemasters! Doing a fly by over the weekend for the for the 2018 March Field Air Show.

I was there with the Palm Springs Air Museum. You would have seen us flying the aircraft that was the “Globe Master” of it’s time, our C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”.

Great fun shooting with the latest Fujifilm X-H1 camera body with power grip/booster and the super telephoto Fujifilm 100-400mm lens. Thanks!


Fujifilm X-H1 WOW!

The first use with a Fujifilm X-H1 camera body and I could not be more excited with the results! Photographed in less than optimum conditions. I was in the backseat of the Palm Springs Air Museum P-51 Mustang shooting backwards over my right shoulder. I could just tilt the back screen of the camera around enough to just see that I was getting this P-63 KingCobra in the frame. Also I was shooting through the curvature of the canopy and the X-H1 still got focus. Wow!

P-63_DSF1329


I Was The Ground Crew

I was the only “ground crew” for this flight of three aircraft so could not go fly and shoot from the backseat. Put a GoPro on the wing. Much Fun! I like it 🙂

The Palm Springs Air Museum T-28 Trojan coming back for a twilight landing in Palm Springs after a nearby flyover with two T-34 Mentors from March Air Reserve Base. Our pilot Michael Nightingale.

 

 


Fun With Purpose

Yes what I get to do is great fun! I am in one airplane, a T-28 Trojan shooting the video of this P-40 Warhawk. The purpose actually is to create “content”, the photographs, videos and features showing the excitement and fun of the Palm Springs Air Museum. “One of the best Air Museums in the World” – CNN. Thanks!


A Successful Gala

I am honored to write the feature and shoot the photographs..

Our 2018 Annual Gala was a huge success! Special guest, Motion Picture “Top Gun” Commander “Viper” Tom Skerritt punctuated the evening as we honored our Heroes among us.

Our World War II PBY Catalina “Harriet’s Chariot” was dramatically presented in lighting and staging allowing us to announce the beginning of it’s restoration to it’s status of being such a very historic aircraft and part of our Living History here at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

This center page spread from our monthly newsletter “The Beacon”, part of your Member Benefits. Please join us and visit year round! Right here at https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/membership/ Thanks!

March 2018 BEACON Spread


Blue Angels On The Flightline

The precision of the United States Navy Blue Angels even just coming back to the flightline is amazing! At the Naval Air Facility El Centro Airshow this past Saturday. With the Palm Springs Air Museum, we were very happy to have been part of it with our own aircraft too! Thanks!


Flight Of Three

Truly I had a pretty good spot to shoot from…

Inspired by the Blue Angels at NAF El Centro, we decided to do our own formation flying on the way back to the Palm Springs Air Museum. Over the Salton Sea.


The Other Four

The Palm Springs Air Museum took four aircraft to the NAF El Centro Airshow this past weekend. These are not them. Took me along too. Good thing I brought a camera (or two)!

The United States Navy Blue Angels! At their opening demonstration for their 2018 flying season. We were very honored to bring our own aircraft to the Naval Air Facility El Centro for this exciting Air Show! And just as excited to bring you a look at our experience in photos and video. Thanks!

Blue Angels


Clear To Taxi!

I really do get to do some fun things with the Palm Springs Air Museum! Like fly in warbirds to airshows and then shoot photos and video!

Clear To Taxi! The Blue Angels head on out for their season opening flight demonstration yesterday at NAF El Centro. Truly an overwhelming and incredible display of powerful aircraft and piloting skill.

We travel to airshows with a fleet of our own incredible aircraft to share the Palm Springs Air Museum with those who have not visited with us here at what is “One of the best Air Museums in the World!”.

Watch here and on the Palm Springs Air Museum Facebook Page for more of our weekend at the NAF El Centro Airshow and the Blue Angels! Thanks!

 


RCAF CF-18 Arrival

This being the photographer and social media manager at the Palm Springs Air Museum is too much fun!

The 150th Canadian Anniversary Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet arrived yesterday. This very special aircraft will be with us all day Saturday March 3rd for you to view along with the opportunity to meet it’s pilot, Major Erick O’Connor.

“This incredible Canada 150 CF-18 Hornet is a shining example of the teamwork and professionalism that is embodied by the men and women of the RCAF,” said Major-General Christian Drouin, Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region, “and is just one of the many ways that the men and women of the RCAF are working to honour their rich heritage, and commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada.”

The CF-18 Hornet will be departing on Sunday March 4th at approximately 2:00pm.


Gallery Show To Be Seen?

Kind of funny that people expect that because I typically am not interested in doing gallery shows that my work is not seen. More people have seen my photography in a month than most will be seen in their entire lifetime.

From bodybuilding and fitness to fashion and now aviation, my photographs have been in ads and magazine features, major newspapers, motion pictures, news broadcasts, brochures and billboards around the world.

This one is among my latest, a full wall size backlit display for the Palm Springs Air Museum at the Palm Springs International Airport. A few million people in a year will see this one. Thanks!

18-1705-PSAM-airport-diorama-poster-v1-proof


T-34 “Mentor” Fly In

We had fifteen T-34 “Mentor” military trainers at the Palm Springs Air Museum for a few days of meet up and flying excitement. This was very fun!

 


Ale Plane

I have been busy over the last few days. Here is the “Ale Plane” visiting at the Palm Springs Air Museum for the Hop Growers Of America Convention. A jet just like this one was in the James Bond movie “Octopussy“! And the serial number on this one is “007”! Top speed is 320mph, empty it weighs 435 lbs. Sponsored by Virgil Gamache Farms. Let’s raise a beer to that!


Love The Smiles

I truly enjoy seeing our flight guests coming back from their adventures flying in vintage warbirds. Brings a smile to my face as big as their smiles! Among my duties as photographer and social media manager at the Palm Springs Air Museum.


Open For Business 2018

OK! I am officially open for business again for 2018! Long time professional photographer in magazine and advertising extensively published around the world.

One of the most viewed and best known bodybuilding and fitness photographers. Fashion work from shoes to edgy nude, from designer to private commission. Also working extensively in aviation. Social Media manager for building and maintaining your business presence small and large.

Have something in mind for this new year? Send me a note, I would love to chat with you! Thanks! Ian@SecondFocus.com

Open For Business


Mustang Ride

A little of the excitement of what it is like flying in the iconic World War II fighter airplane, the P-51 Mustang. This one is “Bunny” for the Palm Springs Air Museum. More great video with a GoPro.


C-47 Wing Walking

Not actually, but the view from the wing, shooting with a GoPro. The World War II D-Day C-47 “What’s Up Doc?”. For the Palm Springs Air Museum.


You Can Fly!

I sure get my chance for adventures with the Palm Springs Air Museum. And so many of you have asked me and now…

EXCITING NEWS! You can now fly in our P-51 Mustang “Bunny’! WOW! Jump on in and go for the historic flight of a lifetime. Listen to that famous Merlin engine roar as you climb into the sky in one of the most iconic aircraft of military aviation history. And our P-51 is even more special and historic, dedicated to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, “Bunny” even flew in the prestigious Reno Air Races this year!

We know so many of you have been waiting for this news. Flights will be starting mid next week, December 27th. The cost is $1895.00 for one of the greatest experiences ever, “The P-51 Experience”! Please call for more information and to make your reservation, here at the Palm Springs Air Museum at 760-778-6262. You will love it! Thanks!


Beautiful Women On Bombay Beach

One of my favorite locations to photograph beautiful women. This time I was shooting from the nose of a World War II B-25 bomber for the Palm Springs Air Museum. Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea.

Bombay Beach B-25 11-11-2017


My Rotating Beacon Hat Works!

Wearing that red rotating beacon on my hat always works to bring them right to my camera! Actually this is a really fun airplane to fly in and you can do that right after Christmas from Tuesday December 26th through that weekend.
 
The Palm Springs Air Museum World War II D-Day C-47 makes for a very historic ride too. This airplane actually flew during the Berlin Airlift. I have personally flown in it a number of times and each time it was just amazing. It is only $195 per person. Money very well spent for a “bucket list” opportunity. Call the Air Museum to make your reservation at 760-778-6262. You really will be happy you did! Thanks!